Current:Home > MarketsMan pleads guilty to charges related to 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor's killing -SummitInvest
Man pleads guilty to charges related to 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor's killing
View
Date:2025-04-22 19:06:43
One of the four people charged in connection to the death of "General Hospital" actor Johnny Wactor has entered a guilty plea in the case.
Leonel Gutierrez, 18, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and grand theft, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday. Gutierrez, who is free on $120,000 bond, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 1.
According to the Los Angeles Times and CBS News, Gutierrez faces up to four years and eight months in prison with his current charges.
Wactor, who was best known for his role as Brando Corbin on "General Hospital," died from a gunshot wound to the chest in downtown Los Angeles on May 25. He was 37.
The cases against alleged conspirators Robert Barceleau, 18; Sergio Estrada, 18 and Frank Olano, 22, are pending. They have all pleaded not guilty to felony charges and are scheduled for a preliminary hearing setting on Oct. 16.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
The four men were arrested on Aug. 14. Barceleau – who allegedly shot Wactor in the chest, per investigators – and Estrada were each charged with one count of murder, one count of attempted robbery and one count of grand theft.
Olano was charged with one count of accessory after the fact to murder, one count of receiving stolen property and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
If convicted under the current charges, Barceleau faces life in prison without parole. Estrada faces a maximum of life in prison. Gutierrez faces four years, eight months in prison, and Olano faces five years, eight months in prison.
Johnny Wactor's mom: 'Grief is my constant companion'
Wactor was shot around 3 a.m. May 25 during an attempted catalytic converter theft in the 1200 block of Hope Street, per LAPD's May 28 news release. Officers "began to render aid" to Wactor, who was later transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"Based on witness statements, Wactor had ended his shift as a bartender at a local bar and walked to his vehicle. When Wactor arrived at his vehicle, he was confronted by three individuals who had Wactor's vehicle raised up with a floor jack and were in the process of stealing the catalytic converter," LAPD reported. "Without provocation, the victim was shot by one of the individuals."
During a news conference in downtown Los Angeles last month, Wactor's mother, Scarlett Wactor, said “Grief is my constant companion,” according to The Associated Press.
"I can’t wish him happy birthday on Aug. 31 — he would have been 38," she continued. "I can’t ask if he’s coming home for Christmas. I can’t ask how his day went.”
veryGood! (55148)
Related
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- Hoop dreams of a Senegalese b-baller come true at Special Olympics
- The world's worst industrial disaster harmed people even before they were born
- Washington State Voters Reject Nation’s First Carbon Tax
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Massachusetts’ Ambitious Clean Energy Bill Jolts Offshore Wind Prospects
- Amazon Reviewers Swear By These 15 Affordable Renter-Friendly Products
- Consumer Group: Solar Contracts Force Customers to Sign Away Rights
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- What were the mysterious banging noises heard during the search for the missing Titanic sub?
Ranking
- McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
- Shift to Clean Energy Could Save Millions Who Die From Pollution
- Cause of death for Adam Rich, former Eight is Enough child star, ruled as fentanyl
- Enbridge Fined for Failing to Fully Inspect Pipelines After Kalamazoo Oil Spill
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Hailee Steinfeld Steps Out With Buffalo Bills Quarterback Josh Allen
- Without paid family leave, teachers stockpile sick days and aim for summer babies
- Why do some people get rashes in space? There's a clue in astronaut blood
Recommendation
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
First in the nation gender-affirming care ban struck down in Arkansas
Two years after Surfside condo collapse, oldest victim's grandson writes about an Uncollapsable Soul
The Most Jaw-Dropping Deals at Anthropologie's Memorial Day Sale 2023: Save 40% on Dresses & More
New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
Billie Eilish Fires Back at Critics Calling Her a Sellout for Her Evolving Style
The 25 Best Amazon Deals to Shop on Memorial Day 2023: Air Fryers, Luggage, Curling Irons, and More
Coach Outlet Memorial Day Sale 2023: Shop Trendy Handbags, Wallets & More Starting at $19